Open type luminaire with easily removable reflector



Sept. 30, 1952 E. H. YONKERS OPEN TYPE LUMINAIRE WITH EASILY REMOVABLE REFLECTOR Filed Aug. 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 30, 1952 E. H. YONKERS 2,612,600

OPEN TYPE LUMINAIRE WITH EASILY REMOVABLE REFLECTOR Filed Aug. 12, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 t INVENTOR.

30p 25 E ward/f. 7022/567 BY 7 I Sept. 30, 1952 E. H. YONKERS OPEN TYPE LUMINAIRE WITH EASILY REMOVABLE REFLECTOR Filed Aug. 12, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Edu/ard/ffinkem lllllllll Patented Sept. 30, 1952 QPENTYPE LUMINAIRE WITH EASILY REMOVABLE answerer.

:Edward H. Yonkers, Glencoe, 111., assigncr to 'Joslyn Manufacturing andSupply Company,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 12, 1947, Serial"No.j768;184 Claims. (Ci. re al-25 :The present invention relatesto luminaires :and more particularly to street lighting luminaires .ofthe open type.

:Street lighting originally employed open-type reflectors which were developed as a cheap means :of controlling light on overhead systems. Such xopen type luminaires. came into extensive use primarily because of (1) low first-cost and.(2) 'TIOW maintenance'cost due to their sturdy construction resulting in very little breakage and ":due'also to the ease with which lamps could be replaced therein merely by employing replacer sticks. It is only within a period of little more than .-a decade that specular reflectors with definite ,light...control have been employed for street lighting purposes. .Such use followed thedevelopment. of a particular type of'aluminum reflecrtor :formed of a sheet of highly polished anodized .aluminum. Heretofore, luminaires capable of producing a definite light control were relatively expensive and were-generally of the fully enclosed type. Due to their highcost they were .notemployed for lighting .suburban areas or the like, and the open type' of reflector. continned-to be used for this purpose. Open type luminaires employing exposed specular'metal reflecting surfacesjhave been used to a limited extent but were not acceptable due to the fact that the specular metal did not retain sufficient reflectivity under outdoor conditions. As airesult by ,far the greatest portion of street luminaires in service today are of the overhead styles using open non specular radial wave reflectors. Incidentally, this type of luminaire concentrates most of'the light directly under the luminaire so as to be relatively unsatisfactory as compared 1 with the more expensive closed type .01? lumipairs-employing the specular reflector. It would'be desirable therefor to'providea reflector which would be particularly applicable for "suburban use in that the initial cost thereof would be little, if any, higher than that of the radial wave refiectorso extensively employed today while at the same time'retaining the open style for easy lamp replacement. Such luminaires shouldalso be capable of equaling'orappreaching the lighting characteristics ofthe ex-' pensive closed type of luminaire. Furthermore, -the reflectors employed vtherewithshould be unaffected by acids andgalkaliesnormally found in the atmosphere of industrial localities. Such .luminaires' should furthermore be mechanically sturdy :andinterchangeable' with open typere- .fiectors .now .in use.- v-Accordingly,.it is an :pbject of the-present invention' to provide an open type luminaire for street lighting purposes having :the desirable characteristics enumerated above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved open type luminaire-including a specular reflector unaffected Joy-expoems and the like.

Still another object of thepresentiinvention is to provide .a new and improved supporting means for reflectors for use inopen type luminaires.

It is-a further object of the present'invention to provide new and improved :m'eans of. relatively inexpensive construction, capable of :being employedin an open type luminaire'fordi-re'cting the lightup and down the street without having any substantial loss .of light .in the verticaldirection. or towardthehouse sides of :the street.

It is. another objectof :the present'tinvention to provide anew andimproved-reflector 'designed for open type street lighting luminaires.

Further objects and advantages of ithe-tpresent invention will become'apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the ,presentinventiomwjill be pointed out with particularity in the claims ;an-

nexed to and forming a part of. this specification.

For a, better understanding of the'presentiinventionxreference may be :had to the accom panying drawings in which:

Fig. .1 is-an elevationa-l-vlew of an open type overhead. .street lighting luminaire embodying the present invention with the mounting -means thereof being shown;-

Fig. 2 is .an enlarged partially sectionalview of the luminaire portion of Fig. 1 showing ;a;portion of the reflector and supporting means thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2wojf an open type luminaire embodying a modificationiof the present invention;

Fig.4 is a partial sectional view of thereflector of Fig. 3 illustrating the configuration thereof wherebyprojection of most of the reflected light at approximatelylfi below horizontal *is produced;

Fig. -5 is :a-top v1ew partly in section; withrcimtours :shown on the outersurface, o'fsa-refiector similar to Fig. 4. but constructed so as ito cause the light to be directed "into two streetbeams substantially 1apart which would be directed up and down a particular street wherea luminaireembodying the reflector would bemounted; Fig-6 .is a construction diagram :from :which the contour lines of Fig. 5 may be determined;

' the drawings.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a reflector illustrating a modification of the reflector of Fig.

Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the reflector of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a partial view of a reflector somewhat similar to the reflector shown in Fig. 4 having means attached thereto for causing the light therefrom to be directed into two strong beams displaced by approximately 180 which may be directed up and down the street where the reflector is employed;

Fig. is a perspective view of one of the means associated with Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 of a modification of the invention.

Street lighting units or luminaires of the open construction, like street lighting luminaires of the closed construction, are of many specific types, particularlywith reference to the head assembly which may comprise a metal head, or

a porcelain head of various forms depending upon the particular type of circuits with which such luminaires are employed. In order to illustrate the present invention, however, only two different types of luminaires of the open construction are illustrated, best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of It should be understood, however, that the present invention is equally applicable to all other styles of street lighting luminaires of the open type and the specific embodiments are merely representative of constructions to which the present invention is applicable.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is illustrated a street lighting luminaire of the open type generally indicated by the reference numeral II]. This luminaire is illustrated as being supported for overhead'street lighting on a suitable support illustrated as a post II. A suitable pipe mast arm I2 and braces or tie rods I3 are illustrated as supporting the luminaire I 0 from the post I I. The particular arm construction illustrated forms no part of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings where there is shown an enlarged partially sectional view of the luminaire ID of Fig. 1, it may be observed that this luminaire I0 comprises a head I4 preferably formed of any suitable material such as metal or the like within which is mounted a receptacle assembly I5 and a lamp socket I6. Fastened to the head I4 as by a suitable fastening means indicated at I I is a housing I8 preferably formed of cast aluminum or any other suitable material. This housing I8 is of somewhat cylindrical construction with a bowlshaped configuration and is provided at its lower end with an annular flange I8a.

For the purpose of supporting within the housing I8, which is open at the lower end, a suitable reflector generally designated at I9 there are provided in accordance with the present invention a plurality of resilient supporting means preferably formed of resilient strip material and fastened at intermediate points thereof to the housing I8 by the fastening means 2 I. These strips are disposed in spaced relationship in housing I8, preferably a minimum of three strips being employed. The portion of each resilient "supporting strip 20 below the fastening 'means 2| is arranged to be inherently biased toward the axis of the housing I8 and is furthermore provided with a horizontal shoulder portion 29a adapted to engage the lower periphery of the reflector I9.

As illustrated the reflector I9 is generally of inverted bowl-shaped configuration with an open top and bottom. The opening in the top of the reflector I9 is provided so that the lamp socket I6 and particularly the lamp associated therewith, not shown in the drawings, may extend into the reflector. Preferably the reflector I9 is highly resistant to both thermal and mechanical shock. A specular reflecting surface is applied to the outside of the glass as indicated at 22. This surface is applied at high temperature and under conditions which produce extreme cohesion between the metal and the glass. Preferably the reflecting surface 22 comprises an aluminum spray which forms a molecular bond with the glass so that it is impossible to separate the metal and glass by mechanical means. The reflector is further treated to give it resistance to shattering from impact. In fact it has been found that such a reflector may be shot through several timeswith rifle bullets and still remain in place within the housing where it will continue to distribute the light with efllciency in spite of such damage. The extreme cohe sion between the specular surface and outer surface of glass assures maintenance of its original high reflectivity. The reflecting surface 22 is ledges 20a of the resilient supporting means 20.

Also in accordance with the present invention the resilient supporting strips 20 are each provided with an extension 202) which is bent in somewhat of a V-shape so that the apex of the V engages an intermediate position of the reflector I9 to steady the same in its position in housing I 8. The free end of the extension 20?) is in sliding engagement with the inside wall of the housing I8. Consequently, the reflector I9 is removably supported by the resilient members 20 and is firmly held in position against damage.

It will be observed by examining Fig. 2 of the drawings that removal and replacement of the lamps can readily be accomplished by a suitable tool without touching any part of the luminaire except the lamp. The arrangement is furthermore interchangeable with the present open type reflectors to give the improved lighting. The luminaire is furthermore not affected by acids and alkalies normally found in the atmosphere of industrial localities and cleaning of the reflector I9 merely involves the cleaning of the transparent glass surface without in any way touching or disturbing the reflecting surface 22 thereof.

A modification of the luminaire described above is shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings generally designated by the reference numeral 25. This lu- L 3] extending 'zithrough' a peripheral flange a. The lower peripheral e'dge of :the housing "30 is provided with the 'fflarige 30b substantially identical with the flange IB'a :or the housing l8 l'described above. Disposed within '-'the 3 housing 40-15 a bow'l-eshaped reflector 11232 having a refleeting surface ii'S identical with that described in connection with -F'ig. "2 o'f the drawings. The

upper end ofthe reflector- 32 is providedw ith a :curved portion terminating in an-"outwardly ex- For'the: purpose of supportingthe reflector 32 "in -the housing 'flll there' are provide'd in :accordfiance with'the present invention re'sil-ientmeans 34 in the form of resilient strips which i are 'ffasten'ed at \spaced points to the inside or the housin'g 30. 'As illus'trated one end of each resilient s'tri'p 34, namely the lower= en'd, is fastened as by means'of suitable rivets or the like indicated at to thelower endof the housing--30. -An intermediate portion of the 're'silient-strip--- 34 is also fastened to'thehousing w as 'by-means oi the rivet -36. However, safiicientres'ilient material is permitted to exist betweenthe'rivets 35 and 38 so-as to provide" thebowe'dl portion 34a adapted to .pressagainst the outer surface of'the reflector-'32.

The-upper endof each ofthe resilient strips 34 is provided with a iree end biased toward the v zaxes ofthe'housing3B and head 26 including a hooked-shaped portion '3 M) for engaging the ananularflange"32a-of thereflector'32 in a manner apparent from "Fig. 3; of the drawings. Preferably the hookeds'haped portion-34b of each of the .resilientstrips 3'4 has a portion which ex- 'tendsclosel'y adjacent the supports 28 so as to be .engageable by a suitable reflect-or removing tool :in'the form of a ring adapted-to be=inserted in the zspacez-between the supports- '28 and the annular surface ci'the upper-end dithereflector-M. Such :a bowl removing tool would, in addition "to the ring-for manipulating the extensions of the .hoo'kedshaped portionsSZb, be provided with a stoppenonthe handlebeneath the-ring to catch :the 'bowlwhen released from-"the hooked-shaped 'portionsiib. With this-arrangement it is apparent that not onl'y'canthe lamp be removedby :a-suitable "tool, butin addition the reflector 32 may'treadilylbe-removed by means of a'suitable -"tOOIIBJSI dG'SGIlBGG abovej including' a ring shaped member for. actuating the ends of "the-resilient strips-Stand a stoppermeniber for'receiving the refiec'tor'wh'enreleased from itsres'ilient-supports within'zthelhousin'g (ill.

inzFig: liofttheidrawings there is illustrated a =partially---sectional view of the 1 glass reflector 32 p shown.in:Fig.f'-3-ofthedrawings. It will beunderstoodthatzthi'sireflector'is designed to reflect the light fromthelampfiifli'indicatedby-dotted lines in-a predeterminedtmanner. Thefilament-of the lamp-381s effectively'the ilight center, which light;

center is designated 'byithe .reference numeral' ii} and all rays from the lamp 38;.above this point willibe controlled as indicated by the rays in-Fig. .4. Most-of the reflected lightisprojected at approximately 15- degrees below horizontal and all rays from .thelamp filament "above this angle are controlled. The .15 degree cuteofi': ray is sodesig- 'nated in'Fig. 4 of the drawings. .It'should be noted that allreflectedraysffrom points on'the reflectorbelow the lightcenterJare.reflected at 'anangle of i5 Idegreeswiththe.horizontal. :From points on thereflector much. above the:l;ight center the rays. .are directed .to clearathe. {reflector edge or rim. lThis .control produces-the natural .symmetricalor. circular; light patterns which-are adapted to Tintersecti'ons, *wi'dasstreets eandrthe like. "It will be-understoo'd' that .thisi.is;accoinp'lished' by properly shaping the L'COHtOHY'IOfZthG reflector 3 2 Y or with reference to zlitheireflec- 7 It will be understood that. 'forl'lightirig marrow streets' atplaces other than'intersection's the'lig'ht supplied in a direction perpendicular. to the-street is=-genera1ly wasted and undesirable. In. accordance-with the present invention there tisillus- 'trated in -Figlfi a reflector. generallysirnilar to that shown in Fig.4 but capable'of transmitting m'o'stofi'the light in two beams l80' apart. The

reflector comprises ak'glasstrefleotor with' ia specular reflecting surface 4.! identical with that -described-i n-connection'withl'l igs. 2,-3 and' As "illustrated the reflector comprises 'four s'ym metrical quadrants, each quadrant having its wall portions arranged in a somewhatsstepli-ke configuration. -For one'half of-the reflector" the portions 'A-'-B, "(I- D, and'F-G cause the lightto designating the angle zero-degrees. theportions A--B, C- D, FG, etc., are-parabe directed in rays generally "parallel toeach other-along the line designating the angle of 1'80" while for the portions 'E---'-F, H-I, and J-K the reflecte'd'light from the reflector surface M :is directed in rays generally parallel to the line Preferably bolic elements. The single "reflection rays are indicated in'Fig.-5 of the drawings. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 there is substantially 15 cut-Offat zero degrees and 1"80-and '25 to 30 cut-off at.90 and2'70". The Vertical contourof "the reflector 40 is substantially identical with that of'Fig. 4 of thedrawings'so as to provide the desired control of lighting with reference to 15 belowhorizontal. Fig.6 is primarily provided to show the construction lines for obtaining'the configuration shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. It should be understood that in reflectors of the "type shownin Figs/5 and 6 of the drawings the best and most useful part of the reflector'forprolducing two directed beams of light'isfrom'fl'to' 3 .as'ShQWn'inFig-G since light reflected from much above this leaves at too steepan angle.

--It--w-ill be apparent that the reflector of'Fig. 5 would haveto-be molded anda fairly complicated configuration of themold would be'required. In

'Figsi'l and 8' of the drawings there is illustrated a reflector which can be constructed ina much simpler manner than the reflector '40 in Fig. 5 but still produces satisfactory'lig'hting up and down the street so as to'produce two'narrow fairly highly controlled beams 1'80 apart. In accordance'with the present invention the reflector .45

of Figs. and 8 is originally of substantially the same configuration as the reflector ofFig. 4. The

'reflectoris thenheated to a sufficient extent to .soften the glass so that diametrically opposite points on the periphery of the'refiector may be :pushed intoward'the axis of the'reflector toprowide the somewhat V-shaped side portions 45a "clearlyshown in the Fig. 8 of the drawings. With -thisv arrangement the light is controlled in' two :beams apartinsubstantially the manner of "the-reflectorof Fig. 5 of the drawings While employing-a reflector of very simple construction from a:manufacturing standpoint.

Itshould be understood that thereflectors of Figs. 5,'-'7 =an'd 8 are"adapted to be supported within 'housingssuchas l8 orig-in exactly the same 4: manner anther-reflectors- 1 9 and 32 "are supported thereinas descriliiedabove. V

In order that a standard lumi'nairexnia'y :be employed at 'all lighting sites whilestill provid- 7 ing the controlled beams along narrow streets, there is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 a simple arrangement for obtaining, when desired, two narrow highly controlled light beams 180 apart. This is accomplished by employing the so-called standard reflectors such as l9 or 32 described above. As illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings a pair of snap-on reflecting members generally designated at 50 are employed which are provided with suitable clips for engaging the peripheral flange such as l8a of the housing I8. These snap-on reflecting members 50 are arranged to bedisposed at diametrically opposed points on the housing I8, in a manner so that a lineinterconnecting these diametrically opposedpoints is perpendicular to the street adjacent which the luminaire is supported. As illustrated each reflector 50 comprises a pair of arcuate reflecting surfaces 52 and 53 which are joined at a common vertical line 54. Preferably the reflecting surfaces 52 and 53 are specular reflecting surfaces and since they extend for a short distance below the housing of the luminaire such as 18 they control practically all of the reflected light which as described above is projected at approximately 15 degrees below the horizontal. The reflectors 50 may readily be clipped into place wherever desired and replacement thereof for cleaning purposes is as simple as the replacement of a lamp in an open type reflector.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings there is illustrated a snap-on reflector 56 similar to the reflector 50 described above employing a stepped reflecting surface in order to produce the desired reflections while confining the unit 56 to arelatively small volume. This reflector 56 comprises an arcuate supporting plate 51 which extends upwardly a sufl'icient amount so as to engage the arcuate inside wall of a housing such as l8 or 30. Fastened to the arcuate plate 51 are a pair of extensions 58 for accommodating suitable clamping screws for clamping the reflector 56 to its associated luminaire. A stepped reflecting member 59 having a suitable specular reflecting surface is fastened to the plate 5'! as by the rivets 60. As illustrated the stepped reflecting member 59 is provided with the surface portions 59a, 59b and 590, the portions 59a and 590 producing the desired reflection of the light rays.

In view of the detailed description included above it is apparent that there has been provided an open type luminaire which has great advantages over the open type luminaires employed heretofore. It has the inherent characteristic of easy lamp removal which was a desirable feature of the open type reflector and yet it has the desirable light control feature of the expensive enclosed type of luminaire employed in installations where a large investment for lighting purposes is justified. Various means have been illustrated for providing control of the light in beams 180 degrees apart for residential street lighting between intersections. The present invention furthermore lends itself admirably for converting the present open type luminaires by merely supplying new housings and reflectors thereto in accordance with the present invention.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements described above and that changes and modifications may occur to those skilled in the 'art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is thereforeaimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a street lighting luminaire, a supporting housing, a reflector adapted to be disposed in said housing and having an annular outwardly projecting flange adjacent the upper end thereof, means comprising a resilient member disposed in said housing and fastened to the lower end of said housing so that the upper end of said member is biased toward the axis of said reflector when said reflector is positioned in said housing, and a hook-shaped portion on said upper end of said resilient member for receiving said flange to removably'support said reflector in said housing.

2. In a street lighting luminaire, a supporting housing, a reflector adapted to be disposed in said housing and having an annular outwardly projecting flange adjacent the upper end thereof, means comprising a resilient member disposed in said housing and having its lower end fastened to said housing so that the upper end of said member is biased toward the axis of said reflector when said reflector is positioned in said housing, and a hook-shaped portion on said upper end of said resilient member for receiving said I flange to removably support said reflector in said housing, said hook-shaped portion having 7 an extension engageable by a tool thereby to said reflector in spaced relation to the inside of said housing, and hook-shaped portions on the ends of said resilient members for receiving said flange, said hook-shaped portions having extensions simultaneously engageable with a single tool for simultaneous deflection of said members to cause release of said hook-shaped portions from said flange, thereby permitting ready removal of said reflector from said housing.

4. A lighting unit comprising, a rigid and gen-' erally bell-shaped housing, a reflector of'frangible material mounted within said housing and havmg an annular flange-at the upper end thereof, a plurality of resilient deflectable members dlSD'OSfid in spaced relation about said reflector between said reflector and said housing and attached to said housing at the lower ends thereof for resiliently supporting said reflector in spaced relation to the inside of said housing, and hook-shaped portions on the upper ends of said resilient members for receiving said flange, said hook-shaped portions having extensions simultaneously engageable with a single tool for simultaneous deflection of said members to cause release of said hook-shaped portions by said tool thereby permitting ready removal of said reflector from said housing.

5. A lighting unit comprising, a rigid and generally bell-shaped housing, a reflector of frangible material mounted within said housing and the upper end there- 9 housing at the lower end thereof for resiliently supporting said reflector in spaced relation to the inside of said housing, and hook-shaped portions on the upper ends of said resilient members for receiving said flange.

EDWARD H. YONKERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 38,492 Jukes May 12, 1863 55,054 Brown et a1 May 29, 1866 1,043,256 Schepmoes Nov. 5, 1912 1,789,976

Henningsen Jan. 27, 1931 Number Number 10 Name Date Greiner 1 Oct. 25, 1932 Stewart Sept. 8, 1936 Halvorson Mar. 1, 1938 Nickle Jan. 31, 1939 Cohu et a1 Apr. 9, 1940 Herbold Oct. 14, 1941 Pennow May 22, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date England of 1904 Sweden May 3, 1932 France July 24, 1911 Germany Jan. 11, 1928 England Nov. 2, 1937 

